Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Wesley

My mother decided that she and my dad should ride with me and Ariel to the service. I think she decided that someone needed to be around to keep an eye on me and be close by in case things … get out of hand. It’s like she doesn’t trust me, and I have to chuckle as she speaks right on cue.

“Sweetheart, I know you want to pay your respects to Erik, and you absolutely should. I’m just not sure I trust you to be on your best behavior.”

I appreciate that she is keeping her voice calm and quiet. She is sitting in the back seat next to Ariel, softly stroking the inside of her wrist. Ariel doesn’t respond to my family in the same way that she responds to me, but she has always allowed them to be close to her which is apparently unusual for her. Ariel generally shrinks from the touch of strangers and people she is not yet comfortable with.

“Do you think this is a good idea? Really?” she continues. “What if it is too much for Ariel? I mean, Jack and Laura could just as easily make a scene.”

I snort dismissively. “Oh, I’m counting on some sort of scene; Jack will not be able to help himself. Erik had to live with their embarrassment and the town’s judgment of him for years while they kept their good name intact. I think it is about time that they get a taste of what they did to him.”

My parents have given me details about the extent to which Erik suffered over the time we lost touch, and it just incenses me more that his parents weren’t there for him. My parents have a much more…empathetic…, global view of everything than I do. Probably because my mother is a saint and tries to see the good in everyone—no matter how deeply she has to dig to find it.

At my statement, she frowns, and her next words are pleading. “Honey; please. Don’t pick a fight with them. I know they have done wrong, but do you have to make this a public thing?”

“Yes.” I don’t even blink before I answer. My mom thinks this is just me being my surly self, but the truth is that as mad as I am at Erik’s parents, I am mad at myself too. I didn’t try hard enough to keep our friendship when it went sideways; I just bailed. I let my anger get the best of me instead of trying to find a way through. Maybe if I hadn’t done that, I could have been another person in his corner when he needed someone. Maybe I could have stood up for him sooner.

I will stand up for him now.

My dad clears his throat and chimes in. “Let’s leave it, love. Whatever he feels, he has to see it through. And we both know he won’t hurt her, no matter what.” He gives me a sideways glance from his place in the passenger seat, and I can practically hear what he is thinking: Son, I understand that you feel strongly; tread carefully.

My dad is a calm character and a man of few words, so when he speaks, most people listen. Mom nods her head, folding her lips tightly as she looks at me, but she lets the conversation drop. I glance into the rear-view mirror at the child who has so quickly claimed all our hearts.

I find her staring back at me. Her expression is serene, but I still ask, “Ariel? How are you doing back there?” I drop a quick look to the road and then back to the mirror, and my heart skips a beat.

For the briefest moment, the corners of her mouth turn up in a tiny smile.

And it is one of the sweetest things I have ever seen in my life.

How?! How have her grandparents not jumped at the chance to love her? How could they know she existed and not run to her that very minute? I’m not even related by blood, and I have willingly changed everything to care for her. You want proof? Start with the fact that I—avowed bachelor, lover and owner of several luxury sports cars — am happily driving a new Lexus SUV with a child seat in the back! I even took her shopping with me to see which of my potential vehicles she would seem most comfortable in. I don’t know if people shop for cars with one of the most important criteria being what their child wants, but it was important to me to see the whole picture with her.

Trust me. No one ever thought they would see this day. Especially not me. There is no going back though. In less than a month, Ariel has managed to soften a portion of my crusted, rusty heart and settle right in. I cannot imagine one reason I would ever give her up.

I’m not the only one who saw Ariel’s reaction. By the moisture pooling in my mom’s eyes, I know she saw it too, and if she wasn’t in love with her before, she is now.

“Yes, you’re going to be OK, my little love. You’ll see.” she whispers. “Wesley may act like a brute, but you have him wrapped around your little finger already.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The moment we pulled up to the church, I knew this was going to try my patience to the Nth degree.

The O’Briens have chosen the largest church in town to hold the service. It’s beautifully ornate with a lot of stained glass in the windows and castle-like architecture. Gaudy floral arrangements fill the sanctuary and foyer where Erik’s parents are greeting all the attendees. Laura dabs at her eyes with a lace handkerchief while they talk to the pastor of the church (who keeps calling her, Lana), and the mayor of Crystal Creek who has been asked to say a few words during the actual service. I roll my eyes so hard I think I hurt myself. The sound of a majestic pipe organ flowing through the building with the church choir taking their place in the choir loft completes the scene.

Erik would have hated this.

Not that he had have a problem with religion; he didn’t. He had a problem with Phony. Especially the phoniness of his parents (who have never set foot in a church, by the way). I did not understand what he meant as much when we were growing up, but it is so glaring, a flashing neon sign to me now.

My parents are next in line to greet Jack and Laura before going into the sanctuary. I am waiting for them in the sanctuary doorway, not bothering to make a show of going through the line, but I know the O’Briens saw me walk in, and they can’t help but see me standing there with Ariel in my arms. Some of the townspeople stop to greet us both before they go inside, and it gives me great satisfaction to see Jack and Laura’s facades falter. Laura valiantly tries to recover, but not before some mourners that are just arriving notice that Jack is glaring at me.

I smirk back. While their pretension gets to me, getting under their skin is fun. Before I can take too much pleasure in it, Miss Mamie steps over with her gentle smile.

I loved Miss Mamie when I was growing up. I don’t think that’s actually her name, but it’s the only one I know. She is the owner of the ice cream shop and bakery in town and with her small stature, wise eyes that saw everything you were hiding and gentle demeanor, she is the grandmother you either did not have or did not know you needed—to everyone. Every scoop of ice cream was served with a word of advice, each pastry with bit of encouragement. Usually delivered in such a way that you didn’t know she was doing it until you stood outside of the shop thinking about what she had just said. Then you would smile and walk away with the warm feeling that at least one person in this world cared about you.

I used to like that feeling. I had forgotten about it over the years.

I wonder if Erik knew it later in his life. Was Miss Mamie a person in his corner? As if she can read my mind, she reaches to touch Ariel on the shoulder, and Ariel doesn’t shrink away, answering my questions.

“Hey there, sweet girl. I have missed you in the shop. I was wondering why your daddy didn’t bring you around recently.” Her eyes fill with tears, and she looks up at me. “I can’t believe he is gone. So troubled; I wish I could have done more. He just wouldn’t open up, you know?”

Her hair is pure white now, and she walks a little more carefully, but her sweet, southern drawl sounds the same as I remember, and a little tug of something pulls at my insides. I remember the times that Erik and I used to get ice cream as kids, my throat starts to fill with an uncomfortable ache, and my eyes prickle, like I am going to cry. Which is ridiculous because I never cry. I haven’t cried since—-

Well, it has been a long time.

I take a moment to clear my throat and collect myself. “I only realized how much he was suffering recently.” I admit. “I wish we were still close like when we were kids.”

“Opportunities not taken are the ones we always regret.” she agrees. “But we all knew you two growing up, and I know you loved him. And you are doing something so nice for him by convincing Caroline’s family to let you have Ariel here today.”

There it is. The lie.

It’s time for me to shoot it out of the water.

“Caroline’s family? What do they have to do with this?” I ask, feigning confusion.

Miss Mamie looks puzzled as she answers, “Well, because they have custody of Ariel now that Erik is gone; that’s what Laura told me….” she trails off as I shake my head from side to side.

“No, Miss Mamie. I have custody. Erik gave me guardianship before he died.” While I wait for Miss Mamie to digest what I am saying, I notice the Lennox sisters, an unmarried set of twins in their fifties and notorious town gossips, stepping closer to us. They are obviously trying to eavesdrop while making it appear that they simply want to greet me with everyone else.

Perfect. This could not be any better if I had planned it myself.

Miss Mamie frowns. “But she said that they were fighting for custody—”

“Yes. Against me.” I interrupt. I pause for dramatic effect and then say, thoughtfully, “It’s possible that they simply assumed that they would be fighting Carolyn’s family. Erik said that he and his parents were not on speaking terms for many years; that is why he appointed me.”

Miss Mamie’s hand fluttered to her chest, and she tried to hide the look of surprise on her face. ‘Oh, I didn’t realize…actually, I could be the one that misunderstood what was said…”

The Lennonxes step forward at that exact moment.

“Hello, Wesley!” The oldest twin, Alexandra, speaks first. “So nice that you could come back today. We sure do miss you around here.”

“Yes,” Alicia agrees. “Did I hear you correctly? Erik gave you custody of this little angel?” She doesn’t give me a chance to respond before she gushes, “Oh, that’s so touching! Your friendship lasting so long; you bond so strong. Don’t you agree, Miss Mamie?”

“Yes, yes truly,” Miss Mamie answers weakly. She looks at me and she touches her forehead in apprehension. She is not one to join in the idle chatter and talk of the town, but she isn’t blind or unaware. She saw the ill-concealed glee in the younger women’s eyes and knew exactly what would happen next.

I glance over at Jack and Laura O’Brien. By the looks on their faces, they are worried too, and I cannot help that they see the corner of my mouth is tipped slightly into a smile.

Looks like my work here is done.